Cardiac tamponade occurring immediately after removal of pulmonary artery catheter

Abstract

　Thoracoabdominal aortic surgery for an aneurysm was performed on a woman aged 60 years. On the first postoperative day, obstructive shock due to cardiac tamponade was diagnosed by bedside ultrasonography immediately after extubation of a tracheal tube and removal of a pulmonary artery catheter (PAC). The hemodynamics recovered immediately after pericardial drainage. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography revealed no pericardial effusion. The postoperative hemodynamics being so stable, cardiac tamponade was unexpected. Complications arising on removal of a PAC are rare. This report, however, shows the importance of being aware of the possibility of such life-threatening events occurring and indicate that removal of a PAC should be performed under careful observation.